LSU Law Students Chosen for Juvenile Public Defender Fellowships

Ten LSU Law Center students were selected for summer fellowships with the Juvenile Public Defender Board and will serve in offices throughout the state. The fellowships are funded by the Juvenile Public Defender Board and are being managed via LSU’s Public Interest Law Society, or PILS.

The following are the students receiving the fellowships and where they will serve:

Matt Boatwright – Baton Rouge Public Defender’s Office.

Emma Frost – Shreveport Public Defender’s Office.

Natasha George – State Public Defender’s Office.

Nick Martin – Houma/Thibodaux Public Defender’s Office.

Jonathan Mitchell – Baton Rouge Public Defender’s Office.

Jacob Richard – Lake Charles Public Defender’s Office.

Richard Scandrett – Baton Rouge Public Defender’s Office.

Mike Smith – Baton Rouge Public Defender’s Office.

Elma Rose Stacks – Baton Rouge Child in Need of Care Office.

Sharon Tsai – Baton Rouge Child in Need of Care Office.

“This internship project is a long overdue perfect match of public need and student talent,” said Professor Lucy McGough, a member of the Louisiana Public Defender Board. “The Public Defender offices throughout the state are woefully underfunded and stretched thin in providing quality defense services for adults. The gap between need and representation is even greater for young offenders in the juvenile courts.

“Our student interns who were selected for these internships will have a terrific opportunity to learn defense skills, share responsibility for real juvenile clients, and make a difference in the way their clients and families will view lawyers and the legal system,” McGough added.